Camera found in women's locker room

GARDENDALE, Alabama -- A patron of the Gardendale Civic Center discovered a point-and-shoot camera sitting on a shelf in the women's locker room, city officials said.

Police are now trying to determine if any crime took place, said John Brigham, civic center director.

The patron discovered the camera about 5 p.m. on Monday and notified the center's administration. No one claimed the camera and the police were called, Brigham said.

"This was not a surveillance camera but a $50 point-and-shoot camera you could buy at Walmart," Brigham said. "I think it is capable of taking some short video, but we have no idea what is on that camera. There shouldn't be a camera on the shelf of a women's locker room. When you find a camera like that, it just looks suspicious."

Police are trying to recover data from the camera to help determine an owner, Brigham said. He said it did not appear that the camera could be activated from a remote location.

Police Chief Mike Walker said his department was investigating a possible crime, but would release no other information about the camera.